Tube end expander tool



April 20, 1965 E. BURKS, JR 3,178,921

TUBE END EXPANDER TOOL Filed Jan. 11, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l l /0 62 /l Q FIG. 4.

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TUBE END EXPANDER TOOL `Fil'ecl Jan. 11, 196s 2 sheets-sheet 2 FVG. 8.

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United States Patent O 3,178,921 TUBE END EXPANDER TGOL Edward Burks, Jr., 142 Cheyenne Blvd., Colorado Springs, Colo. Filed Jan. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 250,825 6 Claims. (Cl. 72-112) This invention relates to a novel expander for ends of tubes, such as copper pipes, for making couplings therefor.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of an eicient, practical, and easily used portable tool of the kind indicated, which enables the production, on the job or elsewhere, of couplings for tubes, such as copper pipes, from standard or available odd-length copper tubing or pipe, and immediate installation of the couplings, without having to incur the expense and delay of ordering standard couplings, where insufficient standard couplings are available on the job, the couplings being capable of being produced by the tool from standard or odd-length copper pipe at a cost very substantially below the cost for standard couplings.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an inexpensive simple tool of the character indicated above, which is composed of a small number of uncomplex and easily assembled parts.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustrationonly, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a tool of the present invention, showing, in phantom` lines, a length of copper pipe positioned on the tool preliminary to being expanded; FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 2 2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a length of copper pipe prior to beingexpanded to form a coupling;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective View of a formed coupling;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view, like FIGURE 2, showing a coupling formed on the tool;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary right-hand end elevation of FIGURE 5;

l FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary and exploded perspective view of 'the tool, with the expander mandrels separated; Y and FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken awayl and in section, showing two copper pipes joined by a coupling in accordance with the present irlvention. l i

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the illustrated tool comprises a flat base plate 10, having cornet holes 12 adapted to receive bolts or the like for securing the base plate upon a support (not shown), and a centered perpendicular standard 14, fixed, at its lower end, as indicated at 16, to the base plate.

The standard 14 is preferably of solid rectangular Ycross section and is formed with vertically spaced horizontal, threaded bores, comprising an upper longitudinal bore 18, of minimum diameter, an upper transverse bore 20 of next larger diameter, a lower longitudinal bore 22 of the next larger diameter, and a lower transverse bore 24, of maximum diameter. The arrangement and sizing of the bores facilitates the rapid, selective, and orderly installation of stationary expander mandrels 26, on the standard 14, which correspond in diameter to various diameter .copper pipe lengths 28, from which couplings 30 are to be formed. The mandrels are similar in construction and only the minimum diameter mandrel 26, for the upper minimum diameter longitudinal bore 18 is shown.

3,178,921 Patented Apr. 20, 1965 ICC The stationary mandrel 26, preferably of solid cold, rolled steel, comprises an elongated threaded axial shank 28, preferably somewhat shorter than the bore 18, into which it is adapted to be threaded, which extends from the adjacent end of an enlarged diameter polygonal cross Section wrench receiver 30, on whose other end is an enlarged diameter cylindrical body 32, larger in diameter than the pipe length to be formed into a coupling. An elongated, reduced diameter cylindrical axial Shaper nose 34 extends from the other end of the wrench receiver 30, which has a tapered free end 36. The end of the body 32, adjacent to the nose 34 is undercut to provide an annular stop groove 38.

The Shaper nose 34, measuring from the top 40 of its free end 36 to the bottom of the Stop groove 38 is of a length less than half the length of a copper pipe length 28 to be formed into a coupling. The mandrel 26 is formed with a threaded axial bore 42 which extends from the tip 4tlof the Shaper nose 34 into the Shank 28.

A movable and removable mandrel 44, which cooperates With the stationary mandrel 26, and is movable endwise relative thereto, comprises an axial threaded shank 46, longer than the shank of the stationary mandrel, which extends from the tapered end 48 of an axial Shaper nose 50, similar to the nose 34 of the stationary mandrel, and extending from the inner end of an enlarged diameter cylindrical body 52, similar to the body of the stationary mandrel 26, which has a reduced diameter axial polygonal handle receiver 54, on its outer end. A removable cross bar handle 56 is formed with an enlarged diameter central portion 58 having a polygonal hole 60 therein, which receives the handle receiver 54, for rotating the movable mandrel 44 relative to the stationary mandrel 26, withk the Shank'46 threaded in the bore 42 of the stationary mandrel.

In use and operation, a copper pipe length 28 is engaged with the Shaper nose 34 of the stationary mandrel 26, with the movable mandrel 44 disconnected therefrom, sothat the related end of the pipe length engages the tapered end 36 of the Shaper nose 34 of the stationary mandrel 26, as indicated in FIGURE 1, Whereat the shank 46 of the movable mandrel 44 is passed through the pipe length and threaded into the bore 42 of the stat1onary mandrel, so that the tapered end 48 of the Shaper nose 50 of the movable mandrel 44 engages the other end of the pipe length. As also Shown in FIGURE 1, the internal diameter of the pipe length 28 is initially smaller than the diameter of the Shaper noses 34 and S6, so that the tapered ends of the Shaper noses are in expanding or wedging relationships to the ends of the pipe length.

The handle 56 is then applied to the handle receiver 54 of the movable mandrel 44 and rotated, in a direction to c ause the movable mandrel 44 to move toward the stationary mandrel 26, whereby the end portions of the pipe length 28 are diametrically and symmetrically expanded, as indicated at 62, to inside diameters corresponding to the outside diameters of the ends of copper pipe lengths 64, adapted to be plug-fitted into the end portions 62. As shown in FIGURES 4, 5, and 8, the approach of the movable mandrel 44 to the stationary mandrel 26, is stopped by contact of the free ends of their Shaper noses, so that their tapered ends cooperate to deiine an annular V-shaped clearance groove 66, whose sides are out of contact with the sidewall of the pipe length 28, so that the formed coupling 30 has an annular indentation 68, at its midlength point, which is of the original diameter of the pipe length, and which, as shown in FIGURE 8, provides an internal annular Stop shoulder 70, against which the ends of the pipe lengths 64 are adapted to abut.

As the free end of the Shaper nose 50 of the movable mandrel 44 approaches the Shaper nose 34 of the stationary mandrel 26, the outer ends of the pipe length 28 engage the bottoms of the stop groove 33 of the stationary mandrel, and a similar stop groove 72 in the adjacent end of the body 52 of the movable mandrel 44, so that the pipe length is compressed endwise for the formation of the indentation 68 of the coupling, as the free ends of the shaper noses approach contact with each other.

It is to be noted that pipe lengths 28 from which couplings 30 are to be formed are suliiciently longer than the formed couplings to allow for the expansion of the end portions 62 and the endwise compression required for the formation of the indentation 68.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of and in the relative arrangements of componentsr thereof are contemplated as being within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. An expander `tool comprising a support, a stationary expander mandrel mounted on the support, a movable expander mandrel threaded on the stationary mandrel and movable toward the stationary mandrel, said mandrels having shaper noses on their adjacent inner ends adapted to expand the ends of a length of pipe circumposed thereon, and means for rotating the movable mandrel.

2. An expander tool comprising a support, a stationary expander mandrel mounted on the support, a movable expander mandrel threaded on the stationary mandrel and movable toward the stationary mandrel, said mandrels having shaper noses on their adjacent inner ends adapted to expand the ends of a length of pipe circumposed thereon, and means for rotating the movable mandrel, the movable mandrel being removable from the stationary mandrel, said stationary mandrel having a threaded axial bore and said movable mandrel having a shank removably threaded in the bore.

3. An expander tool comprising a support, a stationary expander mandrel mounted on the support, a movable expander mandrel Vthreaded on the stationary mandrel and movable toward the stationary mandrel, said mandrels having shaper noses on their adjacent inner ends adapted to expand the ends of a length of pipe circumposed thereon, and means for rotating the movable mandrel, the movable mandrel being removable from the stationary mandrel, said stationary mandrel having a threaded axial bore and said movable mandrel having a shank removably threaded in the bore, said support comprising an upright standard having a horizontal base plate on its lower end.

4. An expander tool comprising a support, a stationary expander mandrel mounted on the support, a movable expander mandrel threaded on the stationary mandrel and movable toward the stationary mandrel, said mandrels having shaper noses on their adjacent inner ends adapted to expand the ends of a length of pipe circumposed thereon, and means for rotating the movable mandrel, the movable mandrel being removable from the stationary mandrel, said stationary mandrel having a threaded axial bore and said movable mandrel having a shank removably threaded in the bore, said support comprising an upright standard having a horizontal base plate on its lower end, said standard having threaded bore means and said stationary mandrel having a threaded shank on its outer end remote from the movable mandrel adapted to be selectively threaded in said bore means.

5. An expander tool comprising a support, a stationary expander mandrel mounted on the support, a movable expander mandrel threaded on the stationary mandrel and movable toward the stationary mandrel, said mandrels having shaper noses on their adjacent inner ends adapted to expand the ends of a length of pipe circumposed thereon, and means for rotating the movable mandrel, said mandrels comprising cylindrical bodies having annular stops on their facing inner ends, said shaper noses being cylindrical and of reduced diameter compared to the bodies, said noses having tapered inner ends.

6. An expander tool comprising a support, a stationary expander mandrel mounted on the support, a movable expander mandrel threaded on the stationary mandrel and movable toward the stationary mandrel, said mandrels having shaper noses on their adjacent inner ends adapted to expand the ends of a length of pipe circumposed thereon, and means for rotating the movable mandrel, said mandrels comprising cylindrical bodies having annular stops on their facing inner ends, said shaper noses being cylindrical and of reduced diameter compared to the bodies, said noses having tapered inner ends, said shaper noses each being shorter than half the length of a pipe length to be expanded, said noses when in contact with each other forming an annular clearance groove smaller in diameter than the initial diameter of the pipe length, the distance between the stops when the shaper noses are in contact with each other being less than the initial length of the pipe length whereby movement of the movable mandrel toward the stationary mandrel compresses the pipe length endwise and presses a mid-length part of the pipe length into the clearance groove.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,319,216 5/43 Dewald 15S- 80.5 2,480,011 8/49 Freter 29-542 2,629,421 2/ 5 3 Ayres.

l2,739,376 3/56 Peet 29-542 2,898,970 8/59 Testo 15S-80.5

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner. wr-nrMonn A. wrLrz, Examiner. 

1. AN EXPANDER TOOL COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A STATIONARY EXPANDER MANDREL MOUNTED ON THE SUPPORT, A MOVABLE EXPANDER MANDREL THREADED ON THE STATIONARY MANDREL AND MOVABLE TOWARD THE STATINARY MANDREL, SAID MANDRELS HAVING SHAPER NOSES ON THEIR ADJACENT INNER ENDS ADAPTED TO EXPAND THE ENDS OF A LENGTH OF PIPE CIRCUM- 